Foreign Minister Willy Brandt told newsmen today that the issues of the statute of limitations on war crimes prosecutions and a ban on the ultra right-wing National Democratic Party (NPD) would be dealt with and settled by the Cabinet at its next meeting on April 24. Mr. Brandt gave his assurances in reply to questions by JTA correspondent Alfred Wolfmann.
Dr. Brandt said that “Chancellor Kiesinger and myself do agree that, with regard to the statute of limitations, this government must take a decision to clear up the whole matter.” Asked by JTA if this meant the statute would be eliminated for crimes of murder but not for acts of genocide committed during the Nazi period, as some German political figures have proposed, the Foreign Minister replied, “We do not take the view that genocide during the Nazi period has to be excluded.” The statute which would bar further prosecution of Nazi war criminals, is scheduled to go into effect on Dec. 31, 1969.
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